Green Dwarf Pike Cichlid

Found in the Rio Negro regions of South America by Regan in 1913, The Green Dwarf Pike Cichlid is identified as Crenicichla notophthalmus. In the wild it inhabits leaf litter and roots and feeds on small fish and insect larva. Growing to only about 6 inches in length, the Green Pike will tolerate other larger fish, but usually will chase others of its own kind. Once a pair is formed, they will spend most of their time in defending their territory and rarely venture too far. A slender body predator, this Pike has an olive green upper body with black stripe, while the belly is white with a hint of blue coloration. There is a large ocelli on the dorsal fin, black with a red ring around it. The males will have three to five elongated rays at the front of the dorsal fin. The male will also usually show a little more intense coloration, be smaller and slimmer than the female. The Green Dwarf Pike is found in water that is extremely soft with a pH from 4-5.5! Most are now farm raised under conditions unlike their natural habitat and adapt to most aquarium water parameters. This Pike will require a small cave to claim and defend, the pair spending most of its time near the cave. A micro-predator in the wild, the Green Pike will accept most meaty based prepared foods.

Detailed Information about this animal